According to the Zhitong Finance APP, recently, Gamma Data (CNG) officially released the &#34;Guide to Chinese Games Going Overseas - Korea Edition&#34; (hereinafter referred to as the &#34;Guide&#34;), co-authored with the Game Working Committee of the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association. The report points out that South Korea is the fourth largest game market in the world and the third largest game market for Chinese game companies going overseas. In 2024, the South Korean game market is expected to reach 25.19 trillion won, a year-on-year increase of 9.7%. The South Korean mobile game market accounts for 59% of the overall market share, with PC games following closely at 26%. RPGs occupy a major share of game categories, and in-app purchases in mobile games account for over 50%.
South Korean game users have good consumption habits, with 47% of mobile game users completing their first purchase within 30 days of logging into the game. The South Korean game market has a high entry barrier for overseas companies, involving language, culture, localization, legal regulations, and other aspects. The South Korean government has strict regulations on game ratings, protection of minors, and the disclosure of game item extraction probabilities. Chinese companies going to South Korea need to pay attention to cultural commonalities and differences.
Overview of the South Korean Game Market
South Korea is the fourth largest game market in the world &amp; is the third largest game market for Chinese game companies going overseas
South Korea ranks fourth in the global game market share (7.8%), benefiting from high internet and smart mobile device penetration rates, providing a good infrastructure environment for the development of the South Korean game industry. At the same time, South Korea has a strong gaming atmosphere, with a large audience for game live streaming, game socializing, and cloud gaming. In the composition of China's overseas game revenue in 2024, the South Korean market ranks third with an 8.89% market share.
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The South Korean game market is expected to reach 25.19 trillion won &amp; the overall market is entering stable growth
In 2024, the South Korean game market is expected to reach 25.19 trillion won, a year-on-year increase of 9.7%. The market continues to warm up, showing a positive trend of change.
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The South Korean mobile game market accounts for 59% of the overall market share &amp; PC games follow closely at 26%
In 2024, mobile games will still occupy the main share of the South Korean game market, with PC games coming in second. Mobile games are also a key area for Chinese developers, and the large market size has led many overseas game companies to continue expanding their business in South Korea.
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RPG category still dominates the Korean market   Strategy games experience rapid growth
In 2024, the RPG category accounted for 52% of the revenue in the South Korean mobile game market, leading the market, while the share of strategy games has significantly increased, puzzle games have seen a slight increase, and categories such as sports, action, and simulation have experienced a slight decline.
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47% of mobile game users will complete their first in-app purchase within 30 days of logging into the game
The proportion of South Korean game users making in-app purchases on the first day of logging into the game is 12%, higher than the 5% of North American game users. Additionally, 17% of South Korean game users complete their first in-app purchase within the first three days of logging into the game, and 47% of game users complete their first in-app purchase within 30 days of logging in. In 2022, the average frequency of credit card usage in South Korea was 137.5 times, far exceeding that of countries like France (128.1 times), Canada (83.6 times), the United States (68.8 times), and the United Kingdom (54.9 times). This high frequency of credit card usage provides a convenient payment environment for digital payments such as in-app purchases.
The Korean market has a high entry barrier
Language localization is just the beginning   Chinese-style overseas expansion needs to focus on local cultural expression
Korean game users are extremely sensitive to content involving historical events such as the Korean War and the Japanese colonial period, and controversial expressions should be avoided. Holiday events in overseas markets need to pay attention to differentiated expressions of local culture, avoiding the direct copying of domestic operational models from China. Furthermore, the Korean honorific system is very nuanced, where titles not only express familial relationships but also reflect levels of respect and social status. These aspects need to be strictly managed in the localization of graphics and text in games.
The Korean government has strict regulations on game content   covering game ratings, minor protection, and disclosure of probabilities for chance-based items
The South Korean government implements strict regulations on game content. The amendment to the Game Industry Promotion Act (2024) requires the disclosure of probabilities for chance-based items, and the GRAC rating standards mandate that games for those aged 19 and above must undergo real-name age verification. The Geospatial Information Management Act and the Personal Information Protection Act restrict the use of geographical location information of game users.
Korean game rating system
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Methods for Chinese games to break into the Korean market
Start from mainstream categories   find unmet needs and niche markets
Currently, the most lucrative categories in the South Korean mobile game market are RPG and strategy games, and it may be worth considering secondary segmentation and innovative integration within these major categories. On PC gaming platforms, South Korean game users have a long-standing love for Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs), which have become an important part of their PC gaming culture
For example, 4399 initially achieved great success in South Korea with &#34;Sword of Miracle,&#34; carving out a path in the fiercely competitive MMORPG market through product features such as &#34;vertical screen&#34; and &#34;idle gameplay.&#34; Recently, LeNiu Games' &#34;I9&#34; has innovated the idle MMORPG track with differentiated operations like &#34;high benefits and low prices,&#34; achieving excellent results in the South Korean mobile game market.
Compliance First   Localization QA Cannot Be Ignored
Localization and Quality Assurance (QA) testing are the cornerstones of ensuring successful game launches and long-term operations. South Korean game users have extremely high expectations for game quality and cultural fit, and any negligence in localization or quality can lead to negative word-of-mouth and user attrition. Localization QA is as important as functional and technical testing.
For non-adult products (under 19), GRAC supports ratings obtained through the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC). However, for adult products (19 and over), publishers must obtain ratings directly from GRAC. The content categories reviewed by GRAC include sex, violence, crime and drugs, inappropriate language, and gambling.
Key Channel Coverage   Diverse Media Combinations
The mainstream app stores in the South Korean game market can be divided into international platforms and local platforms, with international platforms being Google Play and Apple App Store, and the local platform being One Store. Google Play holds more than half of the market share in South Korea, while One Store attracts many developers with its lower channel revenue share.
Three Main Distribution Channels in the South Korean Mobile Game Market
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In South Korea, brand and word-of-mouth marketing are crucial for the success of new games, as game users tend to try new games based on recommendations from friends or game-related KOLs.
Matrix of Mainstream Media in South Korea
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Mining Opportunities in South Korea   Standing at the Intersection of Asia and the World
As the fourth largest game market globally, and with a cultural foundation similar to that of China, South Korea is an important segment for Chinese games going overseas. South Korea is a pioneer in online gaming, with many classic IPs such as &#34;Lineage,&#34; &#34;Legend,&#34; &#34;Dungeon &amp; Fighter,&#34; and &#34;PUBG&#34; influencing players across Asia and even globally. The consumption habits and purchasing power of South Korean game users have consistently attracted numerous overseas companies, including those from China, to establish a presence in the market

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Gamma Data released a report stating that the South Korean gaming market is expected to reach 25.19 trillion won in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 9.7%. Mobile games account for 59% of the market share, while PC games account for 26%. RPG games hold a major share, with in-app purchases in mobile games exceeding 50%. South Korea is the fourth largest gaming market in the world and the third largest market for Chinese gaming companies going overseas. User consumption habits are good, but there are high entry barriers in the market, and attention must be paid to cultural and legal differences

Gamma Data: The South Korean gaming market is expected to reach 25.19 trillion won in 2024, a year-on-year growth of 9.7%